The 2025-26 Herald Cup: No. 3 Montini

Editor’s note: Now that the 2025-26 high school sports year is over, it’s time to announce the top schools in the Herald Cup standings. We devised a points system based on team state finishes to measure which of the 80-plus high schools from the Daily Herald circulation area had the best athletic year. We’ll announce the top five small schools this week, one per day, starting with No. 5 Monday through No. 1 on Friday. The top five large schools will be revealed next week.

As a football powerhouse, Montini did what they’re known for again.

The Broncos collected 71 points — calculated by weighing team finishes throughout the fall, winter and spring — and placed third in the 2025-26 Herald Cup small school rankings. They defended their football state championship and achieved regional titles in girls volleyball, softball and baseball. Montini also finished as a state runner-up in boys wrestling.

How they got there

The football program marched through the Class 4A bracket. Montini rolled past Chicago Urban Prep/Bronzeville, Peoria Notre Dame and Coal City by at least 30 points. The Broncos then made it to state by beating Morris 47-27. Facing Rochester in the championship game, they secured a 47-33 victory.

On the mats, the Broncos trailed by 13 points at the midway point of the sectional final but rallied for a 35-28 win over Marist. Montini then opened the state quarterfinals with a 59-10 win over Edwardsville and claimed a spot in the final with a 42-24 win over Oak Park. In the title match, the Broncos built a 22-15 lead but Marmion Academy rallied to outscore them the rest of the dual.

Who made it happen

Quarterback Israel Abrams completed 20 of 30 passes for 425 passing yards and four touchdowns against Rochester in the title game. Senior running back Charles Flowers had 13 carries for 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Damacio Ortegon made seven receptions for 167 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Against Marist in the boys wrestling sectional final, the Broncos’ Sam Swais (215 pounds) posted the only pin in the dual. Despite forfeiting matches at 106 and 138 pounds, Montini won nine of 12 matches wrestled, including tech falls from Allen Woo (120 pounds) and Bobby Ruscitti (126 pounds). Santino Tenuta (175 pounds) won a major decision.

Key stats

Abrams, ranked No. 2 by position in the nation in the Class of 2027 according to Rivals, amassed 4,072 passing yards in the 2025 season, the most by a quarterback in school history. He recently verbally committed to Miami.

The Broncos’ baseball team posted a near-perfect 13-1 conference record this season and secured the Chicago Catholic League White Division championship.

Key facts

The football team capped their second undefeated (14-0) season after defeating Rochester 47-33 in the state championship. The title was the eighth in program history.

Led by first-year coach Sal Annoreno, Montini boys wrestling advanced to state for the third consecutive season.

In the Class 2A regional baseball final, Montini beat Hinsdale South 4-1 for its 23rd regional title.

They said it

“I don’t think I surprised myself,” Abrams said of his 50 total touchdowns on the season. “I worked my butt off in the offseason — and got the reward.”

“I think it’s just a testament to our schedule and how battle-tested we’ve been through the season,” Montini boys wrestling coach Sal Annoreno said of nine of his wrestlers qualifying for the individual state meet. “I told our guys they’ve been in harder tournaments this year, even though it is a very tough bout here, and they were just ready to go.”